DAILY NOTICE BOARD

HELIGAN BARN OWL & WEB CAM UPDATE

Heligan's pair of resident barn owls are currently residing in the purpose built barn owl nestbox. On Sunday 3rd May at approximately 11:40pm the first egg was sighted in the nest. Subsequent eggs were laid arriving on 5th, 7th and 10th May bringing the clutch to a total of four eggs. The first egg hatched on Friday 5th June. The second egg hatched on Sunday 7th June. Update 8th June - the male barn owl seems to have greatly reduced his prey delivery to the nest box. In his absence the female has been going out to hunt for herself and the chicks. Last night however, the male did deliver a large vole so we are hopeful this will continue. Should food supply continue to be infrequent then we may see a repeat of previous years when younger chicks are sacrificed for the survival of the older ones. We will just have to wait and see what nature has in store. Update 9th June - Sadly in the early hours of this morning the female owl has abandoned both chicks and remaining eggs. Although we are unsure of the reasons why we can only assume that the barn owls know best! The male and female have continued with courtship and bonding behaviour and we can only hope that they go on to have a successful second brood as the summer unfolds. Update 11th June ? The barn owls have not been roosting in the box for 2 days now. Following advise from the Barn Owl Trust the remaining dead chick has been removed from the box to encourage the pair to return, it is assumed the second chick was eaten by one of the parents. The eggs have been left as the Barn Owl Trust advised us their presence would not affect the return of the adult barn owls or the possibility of a second brood. To watch the continuing drama live throughout the day visit Horsemoor Hide at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. To view images direct from the barn owl box (updated every ten seconds) please follow the wildlife web cam link on the home page or visit www.heliganwild.com NEW CAMERA VIEW You can now also view images from our house sparrow nest box at www.heliganwild.com

THE PRODUCTIVE GARDENS BLOG

Visit www.lostgardensofheligan.blogspot.com for the latest news from the Productive Gardens.

Each week we will be posting an update from the heart of the Productive Gardens at Heligan. Find out what crops are being sown, planted and harvested, discover how to bring traditional practices into your own gardens and follow the growing season as it unfolds.

HELIGAN EVENTS

Thursday 23rd July - Cornwall Air Ambulance Open Day

Come and see the Cornwall Air Ambulance as it lands in the gardens, giving you the opportunity to go inside and chat to the pilot and paramedics. Games, information, tombola and a prize draw can be enjoyed.
Please visit our Events page for further details.


Outdoor Summer Theatre

Wednesday 22nd July 7:30pm Miracle Theatre performs 'Tartuffe'

Thursday 6th August 7:30pm Theatreworks performs 'Babe'

Wednesday 12th August 7:30pm Theatre Set-Up performs 'Cymbeline'

Please visit our Events page for further details and ticket information.

HELIGAN SHOP NEWS

HELIGAN SHOP NEWS

We trust you will find all that you need to enjoy the summer season, come rain or shine.

Heligan Shop and Plant Sales offer a carefully chosen range of resources not only for both the amateur and professional gardener but also for children. These include the finest quality Sneeboer tools, cloches, terracotta forcing jars, heritage seeds and traditional plant labels, all as used by our own staff in the gardens. Top quality plants reflect numerous popular and unusual subjects seen growing at Heligan, including exotic, shrub and herbaceous collections. Both our Plant and Seed selections have been thoroughly reviewed and refined this season.

Our reputable Bookshop provides a broad range of fact and fiction associated with gardening, cookery and wildlife, environmental issues, local geography and history. We have a substantial Children's section too. Heligan publications provide in depth information and exquisite images featuring all aspects of the ongoing project here, with both literature and dvds focusing on the art, science and history of growing. Heligan Gallery and Stationery departments now feature fabulous and unique new shots of Heligan at Night, taken by internationally renowned night-time photographer, Linda Rutenberg.

New Heligan Souvenirs include locally made soaps and creams, chocolate and biscuits, postcards, notelets and tea-towels and we have expanded our selection of Cornish Pottery.

The Heligan Wood Project manufactures garden seating and small items of furniture, using a variety of Heligan tree species as they become available after felling and seasoning on site. Domestic accessories such as chopping boards, bowls, night-light and candle-holders are also produced by Heligan staff using Heligan Wood. Heligan barbecue and artists' charcoal is made and packaged on site too.

We also sell a selection of goods from the best national suppliers of gardening and wildlife accessories to complement all that we design and produce ourselves. Come and browse at leisure inside our unique on-site Heligan Shop, or visit our online shop, www.heliganshop.com to see the core selection of Heligan favourites.

Enjoy free parking and free entry to the Heligan Shop as well as free travel to The Lost Gardens of Heligan if you are eligible for free bus travel in Cornwall. See below for further details and bus routes.

HELIGAN TEAROOM NEWS

Enjoy free parking and free entry to the Heligan Tearoom as well as free travel to The Lost Gardens of Heligan if you are eligible for free bus travel in Cornwall. See below for further details and bus routes.

AWARD-WINNING TEAROOM

The 2008 Cornwall Tourism Awards ceremony took place at the Headland Hotel, Newquay on 16th October.

The Heligan Tearoom won the Silver Award in the "Cafe of the Year" category.

We serve home-made soups and hot meals incorporating Heligan and locally grown produce every day of the week. For further information please go to 'Visitor Info' on the home page and then to our Catering page.

NOTICE FOR DOG OWNERS

Between 1st April and 30th September 2009, dogs will NOT be admitted to the Gardens.
Well behaved dogs on short leads will only be allowed in to the Gardens during our Winter season.

Dogs are not permitted to enter the Tea Rooms or Shop / Plant Sales area at any time.

ASSISTANCE DOGS ARE WELCOME ALL YEAR.

We can offer no areas of shade in our car parks.

ATTENTION ALL BUS PASS HOLDERS

If you are eligible for a pass that entitles you to free bus travel in Cornwall, there are a number of routes that connect with The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Western Greyhound
No. 521 Newquay to St. Austell
No. 529 Bodmin to St. Austell
No. 526 St. Austell to Heligan Gardens

First Bus Company no longer serves Heligan Gardens.

For further information call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33
or visit www.traveline.info

Even if you have no wish to walk around the gardens, you can visit Heligan to browse through our Shop or treat yourself to a hot drink and something delicious from our on site Bakery.

The bus service interval is ideally suited to those of you who could be tempted by the thought of lunch at Heligan.

HELIGAN PUBLICATIONS

"The Lost Gardens of Heligan
HELIGAN HISTORY: Lost Gardens, Lost Gardeners"

A Commemorative Album of Heligan through the Twentieth Century.

This new full colour booklet provides an eagerly awaited snapshot of the past for all those curious about what happened at Heligan before the gardens were opened to the public. It tracks the history of this atmospheric place over the past century and features photographic and documentary archive that conveys both the inspiration and leadership of the Tremayne family and their dependence on a large and loyal staff. Estates such as Heligan were not only closely connected with the local community but also with the wider world. Therefore stories from beyond its boundaries are also touched on throughout this evocative journey back in time. The final pages of the book feature photographs by Herbie Knott taken in 1991, soon after the derelict gardens were discovered, following the Great Storm of 1990.

The publication has been compiled by Heligan staff, in co-operation both with descendants of the Tremayne family and with local families whose forebears worked at Heligan. The stories of those staff who served in the Great War are the focus of the book and the official publication date for this title is 11th November 2008, to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice.

Printed by local printers, Francis Antony, St Austell; A5 full colour paperback, 76 pages. £3.95 plus £1.50 p+p.

This new booklet is the third in a collection of full colour A5 paperbacks published by Heligan Gardens Ltd.


“The Lost Gardens of Heligan GUIDE BOOK”

Written by Heligan’s Managing Director Peter Stafford and illustrated with evocative colour photographs by Commercial Director Julian Stephens, the new guide went on sale at the beginning of May. This is the first full colour guide book for the Lost Gardens of Heligan, compiled and published by its own staff team - the people who know it best and love it most.
The book offers a personal tour of the gardens, divided into two sections –
1) the garden restoration of the Northern Gardens, and 2) the Jungle and Wider Estate, where the management of habitats for wildlife plays an increasing role. Peter Stafford’s commentary highlights features reflecting his own interests and passions at Heligan and purchase of the book in advance of a visit will equip you to make the most of your time with us. Updated detailed maps, a Chart of Seasonal Delights and a fascinating Timeline of the Restoration provide information not available in any other publication. It’s not only a valuable resource but also a comprehensive photographic souvenir to take home after a visit.
This new guide book can be purchased p+p free of charge through our online shop.
It is an excellent companion to “The Lost Gardens of Heligan Wildlife”, published in Autumn 2007 (see below).


“The Lost Gardens of Heligan WILDLIFE GUIDE”

Our first full colour book published “in-house”, its 76 pages feature stunning wildlife photographs taken at Heligan and describe over 50 wild creatures you can expect or hope to see here on a visit. Detailed entries include tips on how to identify different species and when and where you are most likely to enjoy a sighting… everything from the magical over-wintering kingfisher to stunning summer dragonflies, birds of prey to basking lizards, ladybirds and stick insects to small mammals. The paperback is presented in a format suitable for all levels of interest and includes a substantial introduction describing the recent development of Heligan Wild in a broadly historical context.
Written by Lisa Phillips of Eco-watch with a Foreword by our Managing Director, Peter Stafford, whose inspiration is the whole Heligan Wildlife Project.

Tim Smit’s review says:
“The Heligan Wildlife Project is in my view the most exciting and important work we have yet embarked upon. It is only by increasing our knowledge of the interconnectedness of all living things that we can truly understand our impact on the world and the need to walk more lightly upon it.
This guide is a ‘primer’ which I hope will be followed by more, as we map the wildlife of the gardens, hedgerows, fields, woods and lakes on Heligan’s doorstep. The challenge is not to collect dead things in boxes but, through ingenious hidden technology and the oldest skill of all, observation, to bring the performance of this ‘orchestra of life’ to an audience who, while they may not know it yet, will be changed forever by the experience”.

Visit the Library section within our Online Shop, via the tool bar on this website, to locate these exciting new publications now on sale.

VISITOR WEATHER INFORMATION

Please note that the gardens and car parks offer little protection from wind, sun or rain, so arrive prepared.

Safety reasons or adverse weather conditions at any time of the year may restrict access.

If there is any doubt over local weather conditions, check this page or phone 01726 845100 before starting your journey.